EASTERN MONTANA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF 9/9/13
By angelamontana

Posted: September 11, 2013

Report compiled by Carol Henckel

Please be advised that conditions can change daily so please call the contact person in the area you are planning on FISHING for current daily information. Weather is changing and some days wind can be a big factor.

Keep an eye on the weather while you are out there and stay safe.

Good luck fishing from the Montana Outdoor Radio Crew.

 

Rock Creek Marina-Bill 1-406-485-2560

Bill says “lots of Northern pike and small mouth still being caught. One fisherman caught 35 fish in a short day of fishing. There were small mouth, northern pike and a few walleye. Most people are still getting 20 to 30 a day. ”

Tongue River Reservoir

Tongue River Marina 1-406-757-2225 Colton/Bob Pederson

Lots of nice catching here right now. Fishing from the bank catch some catfish. You sure can catch crappie right now. If you are in a boat there are low spots where you really have to watch out so you don’t ruin your prop. Lots of bass also being caught. Crappie fishing has been real good. Some pike are still being caught trolling on crankbaits.

Clint Thomas- Hell Creek Marina 1-406- 557-2345

Hell Creek-Fort Peck Reservoir

“Fishing is good. Bass fishing is really good. Just pitch a jig shallow about 6 to 10 feet of water. A brown crawdad is working well Walleyes are biting decent. Guys are getting northern pike as well cranking,”

Clint says. Cranking and bottom bouncing with crawler harness work best.

Gene Moore Lake Ridge Motel 1-406-526-3597

Gene Moore, of Lake Ridge says,” Everybody is catching fish right now.

Walleyes, northern pike and small mouth are catching good. Just use anything as they are working. Salmon fishing at the dam is now slow. It is off and on. Some are being caught on a squid with an 11 inch flasher. Find lake trout in the river channel from Hacksbee point , York island to the face of dam. Lake trout have been good fishing at 100 to 115 feet.

Walleye are being caught at 30 to 40 feet from the major points.”

Canyon Ferry-Check for information. I received a another fisherman report this week who said Broadwater Bay is way down. Check on the boat dock this week as it may not be useable. Goose Bay is better for boats he says. Low water may change where you can fish.

Lake Elmo Billings

Fishing is slowing because of the heat so head out in the early morning and late evening. People are definitely still out trying to catch something.

Cooney Reservoir Jenny/ Maleri

“The fire restriction is back to Stage I again as of Tuesday. So you can have a fire in a fire ring again. Walleye fishing at the shore is good using worms trolling,“ Jenny said. Fishing from shore is also successful in the early AM. For trout fishing head to Red Lodge Creek close to the ramp and the cove close by to fisherman point. The water level is still up but there is still some beach. Water is higher than it usually is this time of year. She believes it will be that way through the fall.

Deadmans/Martinsdale Justin

“Martinsdale is very low. Load or unload at the point South of the ramp because of the low water level. Only small boats are able to go out at this point. Fish Martinsdale very early mornings and evenings. That is best because of the heat. Fishing is real slow,” Justin says.

“At Deadmans the launch is okay. You can get in and out off the concrete part at ramp. Some fish are being caught from shore but things are tough right now, “Justin said.

Don’s Lewistown- Dale

“On Spring Creek hoppers have slowed down. Nymphs are working better. Use PMDs and blue winged olives.

Not much action on Achley as fishing is very slow.

Fort Peck lake is fishing well. Forchette Bay is doing well. Go 15 to 25 feet with worm harness’ for success.

On the Missouri at Fred Robinson people are still fishing for catfish.

Use traditional bait. Cool weather is coming”, Dale said.

Crooked Creek-Grant

Crooked Creek is very low. The marina is not open. It is closed but cabins are still available for other uses just call 1-406-429-2999.

Minnow Bucket-Allen Camarillo 861-0156

“The Yellowstone is blown out. The cats are still biting though in the dirty water. I had guys going out yesterday and then today having success.

They are using dead minnows and having real nice success,” Allen says.

Before the blowout sauger and walleye were biting but I suspect that action is down. I hear the Tongue is fishing well for crappies.

On Yellowtail people are telling me that they ae pitching cranks and jigging. They are catching walleye.

Silos Canyon Ferry-Sharon

Fishing has been good. It has even improved from last week. The walleye are an average size of 16 to 18 inches. Some trout being caught here and there. The weather has been good all week. The water level is so you need to be careful at Broadwater Bay. Stay to the north away from the sandbar near Gazebo 1.

West Side Sports Dan 1-406-654-1611

On Nelson go shallow 8 to 12 feet for northerns right now. Use bottom bouncers to get small walleye but they are small. Go 12 to 15 feet using crawlers . Try cranks at 8 to 12 feet for pike.

Forchette

At Forchette Bay try going deep for walleyes. Northern pike seem to be being caught in shallow water. It has been wet there from rain so the roads some days have been iffy. Hopefully the roads are drying out.

Billings-Scheels Nate

Tongue River-Fishing was incredible this past weekend at Tongue. Just frag a jig for crappie or walleye. We had a big group and everyone caught fish. People were using pearl and red, red and white and chartreuse and all were working. I think anything you put in would work right now. I threw a crank at the shore and did well for bass as well.

I heard Rock Creek was working well for walleye with a smiley blade using bottom bouncers. The fellow got his limit. They were all 16 to 20 inches. Not any big ones but nice eaters. One was 24 inches.

Rich’s Tackle- Richard

Not much good fishing around here. The fish just aren’t biting. They reopened the Jefferson. It is still low and is mossy as well.

The Gallatin has also come up some. It is still mossy. People are catching but nothing big. The catch is mostly 9 inch. Spinners were not working so they were getting nightcrawlers and having some success.

Tiber-They are catching walleye on Tiber right now. The guys are going deep like 30 to 40 feet.

Fort Peck by Forchette and Timber Creek is where the walleye are biting Not big ones usually 4 to 6 pounders. It is real good for bass and northern pike right now. Northern pike have been over 20 pounds . Go deep 30 to 40 feet.

Stillwater Anglers-Chris 406-322-4977

The Yellowstone is blown out. There is more dirty water coming down.

It is pretty bad. About the only place to fish is a few edges. Try using a dry woolly bugger. The blown out water will clear out some of the algae and then late September and October will be great fishing.

The Stillwater is low and off color from the Rosebud down. Use a dry fly in a nymph pattern. Maybe hairs ears or a copper john. There is some hopper action. Try fishing early morning or evening.

Due to the low water and water temps be aware of how you handle the fish you catch. Do as little handling as possible.

Fort Smith Trout Shop 666-2375 Rich

The water is 48 degrees at 3 mile. PMDS are working on the upper three of the river. Use PMD’s parachute Adams, black caddis and the Big Horn Special. Olive colors seem to be attracting.

When nymphing use gray parachutes, static baetes nymphs and Barr’s baetes.

Pink sow bugs are working.

(Report compiled by Carol Henckel; Cover photo: montanamatt.com)

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